Biotechnology is introduced early during our time at school. You won’t probably remember a majority of it after you finished the subject, but that’s not really surprising. Right now, biotechnology is being used in a lot of areas, from the corn you eat, to that cloned dog you saw on TV, and to the revival of Archaeopteryx that you watch on Sci-Fi films. Advances in biotechnology are due to past researches and experience, the advancement of the technology used itself, and the improvement of biorepository. The improvement of biorepository paved the way into cloning, culturing cells, and a lot more. But what is biorepository and why is it important?

Biorepository, as per Wikipedia, is a repository of biological materials that are used in scientific investigation. All the associated data, the location of the storage, and all the processes and policies that are used are part of the biorepository. An example of a known biorepository facility is Brooks Life Sciences biorepositories which are situated in different parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Biorepository includes the processes of collection, processing, storage, and distribution of a specimen.

Collection of the specimen is the first step, and typically has the information of its origin and arrival data. The second one is processing the sample so that it will be ready for storage, usually for long-term storage. The preparation of storage will be based on the sample given. The third step is storage where all samples are held until the owner requests for distribution. Last, but not least, is the distribution of the sample, where the owner or a researcher requests for the sample’s retrieval.

Before biorepositories can be useful, the samples need to be transported properly in order for it to retain its form and be properly stored. Data and documentation are important when transporting an important biological sample, even items from the pharmaceutical supply. There are three chains that needed to be followed throughout the process of transporting, storing and retrieving a sample: the chain of custody, the chain of identity, and the chain of conditions.

The first one to be discussed is the chain of custody. Chain of custody refers to the process of documenting everything from a sample or a drug. When done properly, this will allow someone to determine to whom or what the sample is from, when is it taken, and at what temperature. Some of the information written in the chain of custody is the name or code of the manufacturer, DIN or Donor Identification Number, date it was taken on who facilitated the process, and other things based on the sample.

The chain of identity, on the other hand, is a system that makes it possible to trace the identity (and custody) throughout the supply chain. It enables someone to trace back the sample to its original donor. This is a critical stage because being able to trace the original donor means knowing where the sample came from when it is one of the failed batches. Chain of identity is also an important element in tracking a therapy’s progress.

Lastly, is the chain of condition. This is the processes and methods that are used to keep the temperature and condition of the sample. If there is a change in the condition or the temperature of the sample during transportation, preparation for storage, or even while inside the repository, there might be a problem that will follow. Cells will die when reaching a certain temperature that cannot survive. Drugs, chemicals, and medicines that are specified to be stored at a certain temperature might change their properties once exposed to a certain temperature.

There are rules to be followed when owning a biorepository. One of this is the HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which protects patient privacy and medical records. It is also important that there would be a consent from a human donor if using human tissues or cells for a research. The human subjects are free to withdraw from a research if they’re no longer comfortable in participating. However, as per the general guidelines, samples collected from the researches become the property of the organization facilitating the research. Access to biological specimens and specimen data should only be distributed to authorized people. The access should be tightly controlled and monitored to ensure the security and integrity of the specimen.